“There will never be any cultural “necessities” for the individual.”
Interview by Jason Guest
Congratulations on The Infernal Hierarchies, Penetrating the Threshold of Night (reviewed here) and thank you very much for taking time out for this interview. It’s been just over two years since the release of your first full-length, The Dragon Lineage Of Satan. Musically speaking, how have the band developed since that album?
The music has become tighter and faster and we will continue to push in this direction with each new release.
What was it that you wanted to achieve with The Infernal Hierarchies, Penetrating the Threshold of Night?
Evolution is what we will always set forth to achieve.
How long were you working on material for the new album? And when writing for it, did you have an idea of how you wanted it to sound or did each of the tracks and the whole thing take shape as it was being developed?
Right after we finished Dragon Lineage… we started writing material for The Infernal Hierarchies…, after we had written the album we played a few shows, and afterwards spent several months recording the album, then we sent it all out for mastering, so all in all in was almost a two year process from when we started writing until it was completed. We kind of let each song take shape on its own while also keeping focus on how we want the album to sound as a whole.
What are the lyrical themes on The Infernal Hierarchies… and what inspires them?
The lyrics are inspired by my own personal occult workings and serve
as evocations to 9 of the Demons with whom I have chosen to work.
Dragon Lineage… drew inspiration from the occult philosophy of the Golden Dawn as well as the philosophy of Nietzsche and Kant and the poetry of Blake, Crowley, and Baudelaire. Did these sources inform The Infernal Hierarchies…?
Inspiration was drawn from personal sources more than anywhere for this album.
Can you tell us about the title, its significance, and what it means in relation to the music?
The album’s title is a reference to the occult powers of Darkness, the kingdoms of the In-fernal Abyss, their rulers and energies which are conveyed on the album.
Can you tell us about the symbolism in the artwork for The Infernal Hierarchies…?
The artwork symbolizes both flesh and blood, lust and desire, the seal of Beelzebub, Prince of Darkness is employed as a proper representation of both Will and Desires.
Who designed the artwork? What was it about their work that drew you to him/her? And how much direction did you give the artist in its creation?
The gentleman that worked on the art and layout, Gragoth of Luciferium War Graphics has worked with some underground bands and does good work. As far as the artwork itself on The Infernal Hierarchies…, the artist was told what to do and given ideas, taking his own initiative as well, the pact with the Demon Prince Beelzebub that comes with the first 1000 copies of the cd was written by E.A. Koetting of Become A Living God. We are pleased with the outcome.
In the promo photos of the band for The Infernal Hierarchies…, I see that the band are no longer wearing corpsepaint. What prompted this change?
We didn’t feel it was proper for this release.
What does the act of creating music mean to Pact, individually and collectively?
I think that creating music is something we all need on a personal level and is a great release for each of us.
Since its controversial beginnings, Black Metal has weathered many storms and has come to be regarded as an art form in its own right. Given that little has changed in western culture – for example, Christianity still holds power over many, and capitalism and the lure of its commodified lifestyle reigns supreme – has black metal become a cultural necessity?
There will never be any cultural “necessities” for the individual.
What does the future hold for Pact? Is there more material in the works?
We already have songs for a new album in the works and also have live shows coming up.
Do you have any live shows planned? Any plans to play in the UK?
The next shows we currently have planned is with Helgardh at the end of July in Baltimore Maryland, and Wrath of the Goat Fest 3 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, with Wormreich, Kult of Azazel, Summon, Neldoreth, and more.
Thanks again for taking time out for this interview. Do you have any closing words for our readers?
Get hold of our albums, Listen and worship!!!!
